Traffic density sensitivity selector

• US 9,352,683 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ignaczak, Brad Alan, Miller, Thomas Lee, Bennie, Brian, Freiburger, Randy Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Application Number:
  US14/611,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20150269842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/10 Change speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/72 for two-dimensional tracking, e.g. combination of angle and range tracking, track-while-scan radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/66 Sonar tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 : using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Data is collected related one or more objects proximate to a first vehicle, the one or more objects including a second vehicle. The collected data is used to generate a virtual map of the one or more objects including the second vehicle. It is determined that the second vehicle is likely to pass within a predetermined distance of the first vehicle, thereby identifying a threat of a collision. An action is initiated based on the threat. The predetermined distance is determined by comparing a current traffic density to a predetermined traffic density threshold.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer that includes a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is programmed to:

collect data related one or more objects proximate to a first vehicle, the one or more objects including a second vehicle;

use the collected data to generate a virtual map of the one or more objects including the second vehicle;

determine that the second vehicle is likely to pass within a reference distance of the first vehicle, wherein the reference distance is established by comparing a current traffic density to a predetermined traffic density threshold such that the predetermined distance is a first value if the current traffic density is greater than the traffic density threshold and is a second value if the current traffic density is less than the traffic density threshold, wherein the first value is less than the second value; and

initiate an action based on the determination that the second vehicle is likely to pass within the reference distance of the first vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to adjust the traffic density threshold based on an average speed of a plurality of vehicles in a predetermined area that includes the first vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to collect the data related one or more object when the vehicle is in a drive mode.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

detect that the vehicle has transitioned from the drive mode to a park mode;

continue collecting the data related one or more object; and

determine that the second vehicle is likely to pass within the reference distance of the first vehicle based at least in part on at least one datum collected after the first vehicle has transitioned to the park mode.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer is further programmed to adjust the traffic density threshold based at least in part on at least one datum collected after the first vehicle has transitioned to the park mode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the action includes at least one of actuating at least one vehicle light, actuating a vehicle siren, actuating a vehicle horn, changing a first vehicle speed, and changing a first vehicle direction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the collected data includes a position of the second vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the collected data includes at least one of ultrasonic, image, radar, lidar, and infrared data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to provide information to a remote device based on the collected data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to adjust the reference distance upon detecting a change in the traffic density.

11. A method, comprising:

collecting data related one or more objects proximate to a first vehicle, the one or more objects including a second vehicle;

using the collected data to generate a virtual map of the one or more objects including the second vehicle;

determining that the second vehicle is likely to pass within a reference distance of the first vehicle, wherein the reference distance is established by comparing a current traffic density to a predetermined traffic density threshold such that the reference distance is a first value if the current traffic density is greater than the traffic density threshold and is a second value if the current traffic density is less than the traffic density threshold, wherein the first value is less than the second value; and

initiating an action based on the determination that the second vehicle is likely to pass within the reference distance of the first vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting the traffic density threshold based on an average speed of a plurality of vehicles in a predetermined area that includes the first vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising collecting the data related one or more object when the vehicle is in a drive mode.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting that the vehicle has transitioned from the drive mode to a park mode;

continuing collecting the data related one or more object; and

determining that the second vehicle is likely to pass within the reference distance of the first vehicle based at least in part on at least one datum collected after the first vehicle has transitioned to the park mode.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the traffic density threshold based at least in part on at least one datum collected after the first vehicle has transitioned to the park mode.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the action includes at least one of actuating at least one vehicle light, actuating a vehicle siren, actuating a vehicle horn, changing a first vehicle speed, and changing a first vehicle direction.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the collected data includes a position of the second vehicle.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the collected data includes at least one of ultrasonic, image, radar, lidar, and infrared data.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing information to a remote device based on the collected data.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting the reference distance upon detecting a change in the traffic density.